Access-A-Ride Workers Ratify Contract, End Strike
NY1, New York, NY -12/19/2007
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Access-A-Ride Workers Ratify Contract, End Strike
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December 19, 2007
Access-A-Ride workers voted Wednesday to approve a tentative contract, ending a ten-day strike.
The 1,500 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union voted in Queens Wednesday on the settlement reached Monday.
The union says 53 percent of the workers endorsed the four-year contract term, which addresses wages and health care costs.
"The workers were divided," said union representative Tommy Mullens. "Several workers were opposed to going back to work. They wanted to continue the strike and they were disappointed. But the majority of the workers voted to end the strike, accept the company's offer, and return to work. We're a democratic union and majority rules."
Sources say that the workers will return to their posts Thursday, providing transportation for thousands of elderly and disabled New Yorkers.
The deal was brokered by federal mediators, who sat down with union leaders and officials from the private companies that are under contract to the MTA.
Jeff Pollack, negotiator for the paratransit operators, says the deal is fair.
The Disabled Riders Coalition called it a happy ending to a sad saga for those who depend on Access-A-Ride to get to work and to medical appointments. |
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